Egypt and Saudi Arabia have already been eliminated, so their final match is Group A is merely a battle for pride. The Pharaohs had high hopes coming into the World Cup, but Mohamed Salah was not fully fit due to his shoulder injury, and the team's fans are blaming coach Hector Cuper for failing to develop other players to take pressure off the star striker. Adel Mahrouky explains from Cairo.

For 28 years Egyptians have missed being part of the FIFA World Cup. Qualifying to Russia brought the nation not only joy, but hope as well. The squad selected for the 2018 World Cup, had the countries biggest number of international based players, yet the Pharaoh's performance was a disappointment.

OMAR EL BANOUBI SPORTS ANALYST "There are many reasons behind the poor performance, starting with the choice for the team to be based in Grozny in Chechnya, despite its remote location from all stadiums. That has affected team. Egypt also sent an actors delegation to the team's hotel, which has distracted the players. In addition to the tactical errors Cuper made, there were rumors of differences between Cuper and Hadary. In Uruguay and Russia matches he aimed to end the matches in a tie, but failed, and turned them to defeats."

Crushing Egyptian hopes of reaching their first knockouts unleased rage against the national team's coach, Hector Cuper.

AHMED WAEL EGYPT FAN "I think Cuper's defensive strategy didn't work at all in the World Cup. We didn't see our 2010 national team with their amazing tactics and attacking techniques. I think that the problem was with Cuper. He had the players, but he couldn't select properly. People like Shikabala, Kahraba, why don't they play from the beginning?"

ABDEL AZIZ EGYPT FAN "The players are good. The entire problem lies in our coach. He had five friendlies to prepare for the World Cup, and during these matches he failed to depend on someone in the box other than Mohamed Salah. Salah won't play alone, especially after his injury. I think we need an Egyptian coach, like Hossam Hassan, someone who understands our culture, and understands how to motivate our players."

HAMDY ABDEL WAHED EGYPT FAN "I knew we were out of the World Cup from the first match. If Salah played in the last minutes we would have won three points -- lost from Russia, won over Saudi Arabia, and reached the knockouts, Cuper didn't do so. We were all saddened by this performance. Because of the World Cup my diabetes became worse. I'm an Egyptian who has waited for 28 years for this. And I'm not sure if I'll be alive to see Egypt again in the World Cup!"

The Egyptian Football Association has not yet determined the fate of the Argentinian coach. His contract expires four days after the World Cup. If he's going to leave, the EFA says they'll resort to another foreign coach.

"The problem is that Cuper didn't try to develop the players' skills. Since he was hired, he selected a specific set of players, which he hasn't changed. He didn't add to their talents. We need a coach who adds to the national team, who selects from the big pool of players Egypt has. Unfortunately, we don't have time, because Egypt has a match in September against Swaziland for the Africa Cup of Nations qualification."

Egypt's World Cup bid is over, but the Pharaohs can still bring their fans the country first win in the competition. On Monday, Egypt's last match in Russia will be against Saudi Arabia. Adel EL Mahrouky, CGTN, Cairo.